"If Christians prayed as Christians ought
- with strong commanding faith, with earnestness
and sincerity - men, God-called men, God-empowered
men everywhere, would be burning to go and spread
the Gospel worldwide. The Word of the Lord would
run and be glorified as never known heretofore.
The God-influenced men, the God-inspired men,
the God-commissioned men, would go and kindle
the flame of sacred fire for Christ, salvation,
and heaven, everywhere in all nations. Soon
all men would hear the glad tidings of salvation
and have an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ
as their personal Savior."
24-7
prayer ignites the power of God to release the
fire of the Gospel throughout the earth. Every
nation, every city, every people group, every
neighborhood cannot miss the tremendous influence
of the atmosphere of prayer released from the
24-7 prayer room. There is something deep and
far-reaching that happens when God's people give
themselves to day and night intercession in a
given location. It cannot be measured by human
means, but its' dynamic power can set the fire
of God loose in a nation in a way that is beyond
comprehension. In the past I have heard of evangelists
going to a region, locking themselves in a hotel
room, praying unceasingly for days, and then going
out and sharing the Gospel with incredible results.
If one man can see that happen, imagine the effect
when the Church worldwide gives itself to prayer
and actually make prayer its primary business.
Then we shall surely see things happen! None of
us have gotten there yet, but it certainly should
be our highest ambition and shall take a primary
role as we see the days unfold before us.
God
is raising up Anna's across the earth, individuals
who will give themselves to day and night prayer.
Anna in the Bible, though very old, worshiped
God night and day almost all her life. "She
was very old; she had lived with her husband seven
years after her marriage, and then was a widow
until she was eighty-four. She never left the
temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and
praying" (Luke 2:36b-37). God is raising
up intercessory missionaries who pray night and
day. Last week I heard about how 13 young people
were being trained to pray from about 8:00 PM
- 3:00 AM at a 24-7 House of Prayer. They were
training their bodies to adjust to a new time
schedule so that they could give themselves to
prayer in the night season. God is bringing the
entire body of Christ to a higher level of prayer.
The commitment of this group of young people to
be God's watchmen should stimulate each one of
us to give ourselves to prayer, whether it is
in the day or the night. The urgency of the hour
and the present emphasis on prayer makes 24-7
prayer a possibility in this generation. We cannot
do without intercession. The need is too great.
"While
I am very excited about what is happening, yet
as an intercessor, I can never forget that over
half of the world's population has never heard
of Jesus. The task ahead is still enormous.
As darkness covers the earth in the last days
and darkens the people, the glory of the Lord
will shine brighter and brighter, brighter and
brighter in the face of a people who love Him
absolutely and uncompromisingly. In this way,
the whole world will know that there is a God
who reigns in the Heavens and man will be left
without excuse on the day of Christ's appearing.
The Spirit is still heralding a call for watchmen
to join the great choir of intercessors."
How
24-7 Prayer is Advancing Worldwide
"The
worldwide prayer movement implements a specific
process when establishing prayer watches. Churches,
towns, cities, countries and continents are
mobilized to stand before God's throne 24 hours
a day to praise and worship Him, and to plead
for the nations. Intercessors pray for revival
in the church and for world evangelization,
as well as for transformation and healing of
cities and countries. In this way the Great
Commandment and the Great Commission are carried
out." Jericho Walls, South Africa
24-hour
prayer watches have been increasing since the
beginning of 1990. They are spreading worldwide.
By 1995, there were a few dozen but within 10
years, it has grown to a few thousand. One way
this can starts is as individual churches begin
praying for 24 hours at least once a week and
then extend to more hours systematically. Churches
can then come together with other churches that
are doing the same thing. This grows into a 24-7-365
day prayer watch that goes all year. This needs
to happen in every country in the world and every
major city.
Examples
of Worldwide Expansion
"The
only condition that is to give worldwide power
to this Gospel is prayer, and the spread of
this Gospel will depend on prayer. The energy
that is to give it marvelous momentum and conquering
power over all its malignant and powerful foes
is the energy of prayer."
- Uganda
- Since 1995, World Trumpet Mission and Watchman
intercessors Network have helped to establish
24-hour prayer watches in 43 districts in Uganda.
-
Jerusalem - There was a House of Prayer
for all Nations established by Tom Hess in 1987
in order to pray for the peace of Jerusalem
and for the nations. The Gates of Jerusalem
Watch is part of this where 12 prayer teams
pray daily for 2 hours at the 12 gates of Jerusalem.
During the past 10 years, several other prayer
watches have been established in Israel.
- Germany
- The Watchman's Call Initiative was started
in early 2000 where every city must pray for
the German nation, the salvation of the people,
their needs and government one 24-hour day per
month. By the end of 2002, there were more than
300 cities involved in this prayer watch.
- Indonesia
- Prayer towers have been established in more
than 500 cities in Indonesia. About 5 million
intercessors from all over the country are bound
together in a network. The intercessors cover
a week 24-7, where 16 or more full-time intercessors
take shifts of 4 hours a day. Others also join
in.
- England
- A Million Hours of Praise was started by Cathryn
Hall in England that developed into day and
night praise and worship. Worship teams from
all over the world are encouraged to get involved
in this movement.
- South
Korea - There are prayer mountains throughout
South Korea where people can go up into the
mountains to pray day and night. Many go to
these places to fast up to 40 days as well.
This
is only a small taste of what is happening worldwide
in the area of prayer. In the next several letters
I will tell you about more nations that are involved
in day and night prayer. God is creative, and
we see the unique ways he initiates day and night
prayer in different nations.
Practical
Guidelines When Considering 24-7 Prayer in your
City
Prayerfully
consider the following when starting 24-7 prayer
in your city:
- A
Small, Consistent Start - It is good to
start small and be consistent than to try to
plan a big 24-7 and quit. What is needed for
seven days is quite different than 365 days
year in and year out. More personnel are needed
for a 365-day prayer watch.
- A
Faithful Team - Many different individuals
with various gifts are needed in a 24-7 House
of Prayer. A general coordinator, a daily coordinator,
an administrative team and office, a way to
collect prayer material, and make it available
to intercessors, a team to clean and decorate
the prayer room, someone to work out the prayer
times, etc.
- Dedicated
Intercessors and Worshippers - Pray that
God will raise up intercessors to pray as well
as worship leaders, singers, etc.
-
Careful Planning and Clear Guidance
- You must also think about the ongoing process
of recruiting new intercessors and maintaining
the 24-7 House of Prayer. Ask God continually
for guidance, and wait for His Spirit to lead.
-
Training and Motivating Intercessors
- It is easy for intercessors to get discouraged
so provide ongoing encouragement through seminars,
training, and finding ways to minister to the
intercessors.
"If
men would pray as they ought to pray, the
marvels of the past would be more than reproduced.
The Gospel would advance with a facility and
power it has never known. Doors would be thrown
open to the Gospel, and the Word of God would
have a conquering force rarely if ever known
before." Unnamed quotes by E. M. Bounds
Additional
24/7 Prayer Resources
Additional
links for Web
Site and Prayer Networks
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